Somehow I have finally gotten up the courage to cease designing knits in secret. I will be publishing my first pattern on Ravelry around Valentine’s Day and it will be a vintage-inspired pair of socks. I would probably never have found the gumption to go public with my creative activities if it had not been for my students. They come up with the wackiest ideas and they are so uncensored and joyful in their inventions that I’ve finally decided to give up my shyness and share more with others.
Take my twelve-year-old student, E, for example. We often study word structure and spelling/sound patterns to help him with his dyslexia. To entertain himself though his sentence writing, he kept adding in a postscript about people dying because of bananas. The more he did this, the more he giggled, and since he had completed all his grammar studies and had 10 minutes left over, I gave him the free writing prompt, “A dangerous masked banana strode into the post office.” To my astonishment, this is what E wrote:
“A dangerous masked banana strode into the post office. He pulled out a smaller banana and held it up to the officer.
"Tell me where the nearest local supermarket is!"
""It's just up the street," said the officer.
"Thanks," said the banana and pulled the trigger. The postman died because the acid from the gun had melted him. The banana holstered his weapon and strolled down the street….”
Where did E get the idea of the banana bandit carrying a smaller banana to use as a weapon? I never know what my students will think up next!
Then there is Kristine Vejar, founder of A Verb for Keeping Warm, who has inspired me with her boldness. She saw how little California wool was being used and she just went out on a limb and started making California yarn with few resources or supports. I think that must have taken an enormous amount of courage. Maybe some of that has rubbed off on me as I contemplated designing with one of the beautiful yarns she now sells.
The above yarn is called Gather, a light sport-weight Rambouillet (75%) and Alpaca (25%) blend, which is available both in the natural colors of the animals, ranging in some lovely naturals, browns and greys, as well as hand-dyed colorways using natural plants, such as Madder. Above you see Red Pear, and below is the Fleur colorway. That is the one I have chosen for my pattern:
Valentine’s day is coming up and I feel this color is just perfect for an old-timey, heartfelt message of love. So I’m designing some socks which I hope to make available on Ravelry on Valentine’s Day or before, depending on when the test knitting/tech editing is complete. It is funny how when you feel deeply enough it helps you push past your own barriers, and my heart just hurt for all that California wool being produced and then left to rot in barns all over our state. Rambouillet is very similar to Merino, and it is lovely and soft to the touch. The bit of alpaca in the yarn makes it even more enjoyable to knit with.
Gather is 75% California Rambouillet, produced at Bare Ranch, and 25% Arizona Alpaca, milled by the same family that raised the alpacas. You can find out all about the yarn if you are interested, as A Verb for Keeping Warm has just released two podcasts about Gather:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/reverberate/id1439713745?mt=2
The January 7th podcast, “Breaking out of the Wool” features an interview with Lani, who raises sheep in California, and has taken the bold step of selling her wool to local yarn and fabric producers instead of shipping it to the commodity market in Roswell, NM where it will then be sent to China. It was really fun hearing all about Lani’s farm operation, and how she partnered with North Face clothing company to create the Cali Wool beanie and scarf.
https://www.thenorthface.com/featured/cali-wool-collection.html
The January 28th Reverberate podcast, “Making a Wool Alpaca Yarn” features an interview with an owner of Mystic Pine’s Mill in Arizona. The mill scours wool entirely with rain water! Hearing the sustainable nature of the mill and their step by step process in creating the yarn was totally fascinating!
https://www.mysticpinesfiber.com/
I should probably mention here that I am not employed or paid in any way by A Verb for Keeping Warm or any other California Wool producer. I am simply a knitter who lives in California and is pained by how much of our local wool is going to waste. After listening to the two Reverberate podcasts, I was profoundly touched by the number of hands and hours involved in the production of a local yarn like Gather. I feel that by designing the first sock pattern for Gather I am adding to that total and making it possible for more people to become involved in supporting our local economy and environment. I will keep you all posted about the pattern release date. One of my test knitters has finished the first sock and I’m guessing at least three pairs will be finished by the end of this week! In the meantime, Happy Knitting Everyone!!!!!